Hitchcocks Forum

Hi guys, a quick question. My Electra X engine is now finished being overhauled, it started first touch of the button. Now it needs to be run in and I was wondering how you all run yours in. I know the recommended run in procedure is painfully slow , and I want to get it over with asap. Normally I would break an engine without putting any large load on it but let it rev freely going down hill or with a good tail wind. What do the collective think

Someone mention my mates, The Borg ?? ( Resistance is FUTILE !!)........... Just an idea but why not treat it as if it's a brand new bike and follow the Factory Procedure in the handbook ??

On my new Woodsman -Jan 14 reg - changed oil and filter at 300 miles, then did an interim oil and filter at 800 miles - good thing as swarf was much in evidence, then again at 1800 miles - well ahead of schedule but well worth it as a preventative measure.

I think this way makes sense.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Drive it like you stole it. Well perhaps not quite, but apart from not lugging it up hills in high gear let the engine run and bed things in quickly.

I would change oil at 100mls and at 300mls.
Keep the engine spinning and avoid lugging.
Don't run at a steady speed for any length of time.
For the first 100mls at least, don't run for more than 1/2 hour without a cool-down.
Avoid stop-start in traffic if possible.

Well I rode the bike home today, on the level with no wind it was running at 40/45 mph with the throttle about 3mm open. It is a lot smoother than before , tomorrow I will give it a good run , the planned route is a combination of unclassified minor and main roads with a couple of longish gentle climbs so any following traffic will have to wait for me. Hopefully I can get it run in for next weekend , just in time for my holidays

Petef, where I live if I see 4-5 cars on my 14 mile commute it feels like I am on a motorway. I live 45 miles from the nearest dual carriage way, in a very rural location